Multiple switch



May 23, 1933. A. w. TYLER MULTIPLE SWITCH Filed May 4,.1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor A ltor ney May 23,1933. A. w. TYLER 1,910,660

MULTIPLE SWITCH Filed May 4, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. W. TYLER MULTIPLE SWITCH May 23, 1933.

Filed May 4, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ALB/H W. 7715/:

Inventor Attorney tributing' the branch circuits.

Patented May 23, 1933 PATENT OFFICE AIABIN W. TYLER, OF TEKOA, WASHINGTON MULTIPLE SWITCH Application filed May 4, 1932. Serial No. 609,074.

My present invention relates to improvements in multiple switches of the knife blade type comprising a pivoted lever having a plurality of conducting blades adapted to make and break electric contact in combination with conductingleaves or clips, and the multiple switch and its accessories are combined with a control box or switch box for receiving the main lines or circuits and dis- The improved switch is illustrated in connection with a control box and equipment for a three-wirecircuit supplying current to the Wiring system of a house or apartment for use in connection with heating appliances,

power operated appliances, and for the lighting circuits of the house, apartment, or other similar place.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a compactly arranged circuit control mechanism or device, (including a meter) for controlling the current supplied to a house or apartment, and in which standardized parts are employed, which parts may be manufactured at relatively low cost of production and which are assembled with facility at the factory, thus insuring economy in both time and labor in the installation of the control devices at the place of use. The main switch lever is of the quick-acting type and involves novel features of invention whereby a quick. break is insured as the lever is swung to open the circuits, and also to assure safety in the manipulation of the lever, as well as in accidental displacement of the lever.

By the employment of my invention in the control box, switch, and its accessories, the branch circuits or house circuits are readily accessible to the tenant or householder for the replacement of branch-line lfuses, while the meter and main line fuses are rendered inaccessible to unauthorized parties, and tests may readily be made to ascertain causes oftrouble without disturbing the wiring and connections. Changes in circuits, when necessary or desirable, may be made with facility by authorized workmen, and means are provided for insuring safety against accidental contact with live conductors, not only to the workmen but to the tenant or householder, when access to the device becomes necessary.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to one mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles ot my invention, but it will be understood that changes and alterations may be made in the exemplified structure, within the scope of my appended claims, without departing from the principles of my invention.

Figure l is a perspective View of a control box or switch box in which the invention is embodied, showing the main switch lever in closed position, and illustrating the meter in position exterior of the box.

Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified form of box in which the meter is enclosed within the box and its dial visible through a window, the switch lever being shown in open position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional 'iew, as at line 3-3 of Figure 5, through a portion of the switch box and switch-lever, showing the latter, by full lines, in closed position and by dotted lines in open position, and also by dotted lines indicating the flexed handle in its initial opening movement.

Figure 4 is a view at the rear of the switc block showing the multiple switch blades in open position, and wiring connections.

Figure 5 is a face view of the switchblock and its accessories, with the switch lever in closed position.

In Figure 1 of the drawings I have shown the equipment as installed for use, including a switch box that comprises a base 1 and lid portion 2 hinged at 3 to the base, and these parts, as shown, are locked and sealed, as at l to prevent access, by unauthorized parties, to the upper interior of the box. The lo ver, interior portion of the box is ac Lil cessible through a spring closed door 5, which is hinged at 6 and provided with s rings 7, the latter being employed to hold tl e door normally closed, and to automatical- Iy close the door after it has been opened, and released. The base of the box is provided with the required knockouts in order that the necessary holes may be fash ioned in the box-base for the introduction of wires, and the lid of the box is fashioned with a specially formed tongue 8 which may be adapted to accommodate the meter 9 shown as exterior of the box.

In Figure 2, the meter, the dial of which is indicated at 10, is located within the box, and the lid 11 of the box is hinged, and also provided with the s ring door, as illustrated in the boxof igure 1.

-The lid section of the switch box or con trol box is fashioned with a central, vertical, slot 12, and. at the lower end of theslot a foratcd lug 13 is rigidly attached to the id section for use in looking the lever 14 of the switch in open position. Thus, by

means of a padlock 15, the perforated lug or lugs-13 and an eye 15' on the switch lever, the lever may be locked in the dotted posi tion' of Figure 3% hold the switch open and thus disconnect the house wiring system fro the source of current'supply. I

Within the switch box or housing a switch biock or plate 16, of suitable size and mate rial, is supported hy'screws or bolts 17, and spacing bushin s or sleeves 18 are interposed between the block and the back wall of the housing or box to hold the block a desired distance from the back wall, in order that access may readily be had to this space for the purpose of running and attachmg wires.

A pad 19 of suitable size and ofinsulating material is attached to the inner face of the back wall of the box, adjacent to the switches for the prevention of arcing or short circuiting between parts of the switches, and the usual bus bar-20 is secured to the outer face of the switch block, as shown in Figure 5. I

Testing ins, as 21, 22 are mounted on the switch bloc for use when the lid of the box is opened to give access to the pins for authorized'persons, when tests are necessary.

a As best seen in Figure 4, at the rear side of the switch block a number of spring clips orstationary contact members are secured, here shown as three in number and designated as 24, 25, and 26, each of which is provided with a terminal bushing or sleeve 27 h to receive the terminals or ends of'the three wer wires designated as E, N, and F (Fig.

) the wire N being the neutral wire.

Between adjoining spring clips 24 and 25 and, 25 and 26 are interposed porcelain guards 28 28, as safety devices for prevent? mg arcing between adjoining switches, and

these guards are secured in suitable manner to the rear face of the switch block 16.

Each of the spring clasps 24, 25, and 26 is alined with a slot as 29 extendln vertically in the switch block, and these slots accommodate the three arcuate sha ed switch blades, or movable contact mem rs 30, 31 and. 32 that co-act with their res ctive spring clips in making and breaking t e circuits. These s aced conductor blades are rigidlymounte on a cross head 33 by means of screws 34 and the cross head forms art of the switch lever, the handle of whic is desi ated as 14.

T e lever is pivoted on pins as 35 that are mounted in brackets 36 attached to the front face of the switch block, and a yoke 37 is rigidly attached to the cross head and fash; r

ioned with a rigid or inte a1 head 38 atits central portion. This he 38 provides for-a pivotal connection with the tubular handle.

14 of the switch and thehandle is fittedovers the head and pivoted thereon by means ofiaa pin 40, as best seen in Figure,3.

. r A i- .The tubular handle, which is normaliyrn,

alined with the head 38, is thus capable of a slight movement on its pivot pin, with relai-r tion to the pivot head 38, in order that (as;

indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3) yhels the switch 1s opened a quick action may take place in the separation of the blades or mov-. able contact members from the spring clasp; of the switch. J I

To permit this relative pivotal of the lever handle, its pivot, end is bifuncated or forked, as at 39, within the housing, or, box, and the bifurcated edges of the handle are fashioned on curves struck from, tbepivotal center 40, and to limit this flex-.v ing movement of the handle on its pivot 40, a and or ring 41 is fixed to and encircles} the handle near its pivotal end and exterior of the box or housing. The looking or fast: ening ring 15 hereinbefore referred to is attached to this ring or band.

Within the tubular slotted handle 14 a, spring blade 42 is located, one end of the blade being inserted in a slot in the pivot, head 38, and by means of a screw 43 this end of the spring blade is rigidly mounted in the ivot head of the switch-yoke. The spring lade extends outwardly toward the free end of the handle, and the free end 44 of the blade contacts with a lip 45 of the tubular, slotted handle.

Thus it will be apparent that when initial pressure or pull is applied to the handle 14; i

switch blades. As the blades are being rea leased from frictional contact with the m spring clasps of the switch, the tension of the spring blade 42 now acts to snap the switch blades out of their clasps and into 7 alinement with the handle 14, thereby causturned up as indicated by the second dotted position in Figure 3, for locking the switch in open position. i

Inthe interest of safety, the handle 14 is swung upwardly to close the switch and downwardly'to open the switch, and should the switch handle, through accidental displacement or derangement, fall by gravity, it will swing'the switch blades to safety position.

1 While the lid of the switch box or housing is closed, the downward movement of the lever handle 14 to open the switch, is limited by the length of the slot 12 in the lid, but after the lid has been opened to give access to the interior of the housing, the lever 14, in its switch-opening movement, may be given a longer swing, in order that the blades 30 and 32 of the switch may impinge against the lower ends of the two power fuse-cartridges, or main cartridges M and L respectively, and dislodge them from their spring clips C, thereby permitting facile withdrawal, by hand, of these cartridges, when necessary. This operation and auxiliary use of the switch lever is illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 8.

Vhile I'have shown three blades in use in the switch, it will be apparent that this number may be increased or diminished to suit dillerent requirements of the utilities company, and other authorities. Thus, if two circuits, as an electric range circuit and a lighting circuit, are to be used, the two outer blades 30 and 32 of the switch are enr ployed, and the neutral service wire N is extended to the bus bar 20. If a two-wire circuit is employed, instead of the three-wire circuit as here illustrated, it becomes necessary to utilize one switch blade when the neutral is not switched; or two blades may be employed where the neutral is switched.

In Figure 5, two of the branch lines for lighting circuits include the fuse plugs P and Q, and the wires R and S and wires R and S to the bus bar 20, and other light circuits may be connected to the fuse plugs or terminals at P and Q, at the left side of the switch block.

Near the lower end of the switch block, fuse-cartridges 46 and 47 are employed, with the wires 48 and 49 of a branch power circuit for the house or apartment, to supply current for heating, or electric ranges and similar electrically operated appliances.

To the fuse plug 50, a wire 51 is connected 1 and extends to the top of the switch block where it is connected to the terminal or screw 21a for use when a flata'ate system of charges is in vogue and the meter is dispensed with for this particular use, but when the meter 9 is employed, this wire is connected thereto through the terminal 21 in Figure 5.

Two test clips 52 and 53 are illustrated in Figure 5, above the switch lever 14, for compliance with the requirements of the under writers association, for use in breaking the circuits of the house wiring system, and these circuit-breaking clips are opened when the meter is to be tested.

The fuse plugs and cartridges of the branch lines or house circuits in the lower part of the switch box, it will be noted are accessible, when the door 5 is opened, in order that the consumer of the electric current may replace burned out plugs or cartridges without necessity for calling on the service department of the utilities company, or other expert service. The electrical devices in the upper part of the box, however, are not accessible to the consumer, without breaking the seals or looks at 4, 4. The handle 14 of the switch lever, if desired, may be fastened by the padlock 15 in open position (dotted lines Figure to cut oil the electrical supply to the house or apartment, without disturbing any other part of the equipment, and the key of the padlock is to be retained by the utilities company furnishing the electric current.

It will be noted that the wires enter the back space between the. back wall of the housing or box and the switch block, and are either passed through holes in the block as when attaching to the bus bar 20 in Figure 5, or the conducting wires are attached to terminals at the rear of the block, as in Figure 4.

By this arrangement of the wires and terminals, energized conductors are not exilliposed, thereby eliminating danger from contact with live conductors, while at the same time the tester or checker is enabled to hook up his connections with live service conductors while the main switch is open, and while the switch is open practically all of the devices on the fact of the switch block are de-energized, except for the service clip screws that protrude through the block. As

these latter screws are inaccessible under ordinary conditions, the danger of contact is reduced to a minimum.

The current, through the conductors, passes through the closed main switch and thence to the meter, thence back to the lighting and power circuits to P and P, by way of the test clips 52 and 53, and also to the connection 50 for distribution of electricity to the different circuits.

As indicated in Figures 1 and 2 changes and alterations may be made in the combinations and arrangements of parts, including the meter, and other changes in size and shape of the box and its lid, as welllas in the arrangement of the wires and terminals, are also contemplated in the adaptation of my invention to different existing conditions.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a slotted switchblock having pivot brackets on its face and stationary contact clips on its op ite side, of a switch lever pivoted in sai brackets, a contact blade passing through the slotted block for engagement with the contact clips, a housing having a detachable lid, and said lid having a slot for said "switch lever.

2. The combinationwith a housing having a slotted, detachable lid, and a switch block having a slot and spaced intermediate the back wallof the housing and said lid, a switch lever pivoted on the switch block and protruding through the slottedlid, a movable-contact blade mountedon the lever and protrudingthrough the slotted block, and a stationary contact member mounted on the block for co-action with the blade.

3. The combination with a housing hav ing a slotted, detachable lid' and a switchblock having slots and spaced intermediate the back wall of the housing and the lid, a switch lever pivoted on the switchblock and protruding through the slotted lid, a plurality of curved blades molmted on the lever and protruding through the slots of the block, and spaced contact mounted on the'block 'for 'co'action with the blades. 2 a

4. The combination with a housing having a slotted, detachable lid, and a switch: block having a plurality of spaced slots and supported intermediate the back wall of the housing and a plurality of static contact members mounted on said block jaeent said slots, of a switch lever pivoted on the blockand protruding through the slotted lid, and a plurality of curved contact blades mounted on the lever and protruding throu h the slots of the block for coaction wi the stationary contact members.

5. In a quick-act' switch-lever, the! combination with a stationary contact member, of a contact blade mounted on the lever for frictional engagement with the stationary contact member, a pivot head on the lover, a handle pivoted on said head for relative movement, means for the movement of the handle, and resilient means for alining the handle with the lever.

6. In a quick-acting switch, the combination with a stationary contact member, of a pivoted lever having a blade for frictional engagement with said member, a handle pivoted on the lever, a resilient connection LOIQJQQ between the lsevcr and itshandle to permit fiexingof the handle on the lever, and means for limiting the flexum of the handle.

,7. In a-quicktion with a switehslever audits blade oi a pivotghead-on thelever and a spri b a secured in said head, a tubular hen e en closing the blade and a pivotal connection between the handle and head, and means for limiting the pivotal movement of said handle. 8; In a quick-acting switch, the combination with a switch lever and its blade, of a fiivotihe'ad on the lever and a spring blade aving one end secured in said head all tubular handle pivoted on said head-e 00-,

ing said blade and having.- a lip for contact v l with the free end of the spring blade, and a band encircling the tubular handle to limit the pivotal movement of the handle.

ALB EB."

In testimony whereof I aflix myrsi nature:

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